Christine Stimpel, country managing director for Germany at executive search firms Heidrick & Struggles, has been elected as chairman of the German Steering Committee of the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC).

Current incumbent Ulrich F Ackermann, managing partner of TRANSEARCH International Germany, will step down at the end of 2011 after five years in the post.

Stimpel holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine and has 16 years’ executive search experience, specialising in life sciences and fast-moving consumer goods.

Her previous experience includes time as a general manager at Ogilvy & Mather Healthcare International, and she began her career with Johnson & Johnson Germany, as director of the clinical research department.

In addition, the AESC German steering committee includes: Thomas Becker (Russell Reynolds Associates), Richard Fudickar (Boyden International), Björn Johansson (Björn Johansson Associates), Franco Parodi (Parodi & Associates), Stefan Steger (Korn/Ferry International) and Dieter Unterharnscheidt (Spencer Stuart).